Jenna – Oewyn and Gilain – Friendly and outgoing – spirit of wanderlust – had to prod and push her father to be part the field position with military force – animal person – Cavalier/Bard (Battle Herald Build) – 24 years old – Soldiers are not happy with some of the new tactics – to send a more forceful message with the centaurs – She has a medium to hight respect for the centaurs

Willis – Neesha – Unexpectedly is an intellectual – Indiana Jones – Ranger – Current fascination with Cyclops (We have ruined watch tower -1421) – shares that based on records that the cyclops had an empire – originated from land of Iobara (east of Varnhold – past mountains – monster controlled now)

Caspar – Alexi – Escorted around town for hours – pleased to see strong community spirit – Use Watchtower – Didn’t have the internal issues we had – mostly outside issues – higher stability or loyalty than us -

Magar Varn – Kaiden – Working to ‘herd’ some of the Centaurs to reservations – certain areas they are more resistant in – Can loan a unit to Varnhold – week to week – to help improve relations

Kaiden turns 29 during this month

Week 3 – Travel to Candlemere

Paying Duncan the Fisherman 20 gp for the weeks of travel with us. He’ll be dropping us off on the west side and then coming back daily at noon to see if we are ready to be picked up.

Terrain is considered hilly. Soil is rich.

Area of undergrowth is odd – strange ridge of plants has grown over wall.

We search the hex to find points of interest before moving to ruins. Regions are like scottish moors..

Areas of interest – the tower. the hill, and ruined town with dock. This takes us most of the day. We check out the hill in the afternoon/evening.

Hill

7 Places of Interest

We enter through one on the lower level – stone chamber – slightly worked and slightly natural. Somewhat hidden, there is an excavated tunnel, but not finished

At T fork, we head, right (away from water sounds). It comes to a chamber that is partially collapsed. Some sun tricking in from hole in ceiling. In the dirt pile below the hole, there are some bones. Gilain examines the remains – finds the head of rusted shovel.

Go the other way that T fork, there is a partially collapsed room. Bit more moisture. Several spots are pretty constant trickles of moisture. Possible drain at one end. Gilain explores pool. 15 ft deep. stairs under the water on one side.

The drainage area is 5 ft radius hole. The hole is probably 10 ft deep and heads south and east.

As we back out to the front cavern, a wraith attacks us. After a zesty fight where it did numerous Con damage to several people, we defeat it.

Combat

1 x Wraith

We retreat a mile away to camp the night. During the first watch, we are attacked.

Combat

1 x Willow O’Wisp

On second watch, we are attacked.

Combat

2 x Willow O’Wisp

1 x Willow O’Wisp – retreated

On third watch, we attacked

4 x Willow O’Wisp – 1 retreated

We make it through the night.

7 Places of Interest (continued)

Second entrance (southern) on the lower level. Bigger entrance than the last. Opens into a gallery. The far wall is rubble. There is a crack that has water running across it from one side to the other.

Rubble wall – one part to one side might be a nest. Oewyn starts to back away and things happen.

Combat

1 x Wasp Swarm

Investigating hive was made in a body – we find 3 uncut gemstones.

Alot of the other entrances lead into similar type areas – worked and natural stone – water is prevalent in all of them. The whole hill is riddled.

That takes the rest of the day. We return to our campsite and see what happens over night.

4713 June (continued)

Week 2 – Hunt the Owlbear

We have completed the search of the lair and the plan is to return next month for the pact and to bring the nourished young owl bear cub.

We complete the search of the hex and start back to the capital.

HEX 1819 SEARCHCOMPLETED

Week 3 – Back in the Capital

The party returns to the capital and rather than address the crowd – says he needs to address it with the council first.

Ensorceled creature sent against us – we tracked it back to it lair, defeated it and broke the ensorcelement. It offered recompense for the deaths it caused while it was ensorceled. We are translating it as blood guild to the families of those that lost people.

A festival will be held to honor those that fell to the trolls and the owlbear attack

Alexi may have spotted Grigori in the crowd.

We deal with some unrest and schedule the festival one week out.

Week 3 and 4 will be party down time with festival at end of week 3.

Next month after the kingdom turn, we need to head to Restov to meet with the Lord Mayor. (It will take 1 week to get there and then 1 week back).

Downtime

Oewyn trains hitpoints for two weeks
Leanna figures out how to remove hair from the Ring of Bestial Friendship.
Gilain works on relations with Flora
Alexi works on Lilly

Week 4 – Downtime

Alexi, Leanna and Kaiden go to visit Syntira.

Topics

Talon Quake

Possibly other creatures with ties to the land – Narlmarches one is dead – Unicorn Corpse

Pact – we may have options due to Menhir in our grove – maybe talk with caretaker (Dahlia)

Fae Queen? – Tiger Clan?

Shaken a bit (Alexi notices)

Cyclops Empire

Palid Plague

One of her sister’s pioneered it and it was centuries old – virulant concoction – Patron she turned to was the Horsemen of Pestilence (demon lord) – her sister has been locked away

Would she share

Work on positive relations (Alexi) – maybe a Unicorn sighting

Troll Unit cut through the forrest and did not come out the other side – waylaid by the fae (mentioned by Tig and Pervalash)

4713 July

Week 1 – Kingdom Turn

Events

Bandits wipe out two trade caravans leaving Olegdahl

1- Storm Crows

1 – Morgrim Delvedeeps

Forrest Hawks Heading out to make new village – majority of gnome population leaves

4713 June (continued)

Week 2 – Hunt the Owlbear

Oewyn says it will take a few days to get there and we head to Hex 1819

3 days to get there.

Talon Craig – Several miles wide

It’s about 11am. We tie off our mounts about a quarter mile back from the cave entrance and advance.

As we approach, Alexi and Kaiden spot an odd rock (based on shape). Seems to be artificial. Single Menhir. Part of it has been cleaned off. (5 ft up from ground level 2 ft wide) It has some ruins chiseled into it. Kaiden can’t translate it but it is druidic. Seems the sense of it is a warning.

We then move towards the cave. The entrance was originally covered.

With darkvision cast upon the non-darkvision party members, we enter. There is a large cavern with mold in it.

Oewyn spots a mushroom called a ‘Shrieker’ (light and motion within 10 ft cause it to react)

We avoid it and follow the Gargantuan Owlbear sign to the south. Oewyn spots another shrieker.

Alexi spots a creature sneaking up on us on our flank.

Combat

1 x Underground Shambling Mound

1 x Centipede Swarm

Nisha recovers some Shambling Mound sap.

We heal up and then continue south. There are broad, old steps cut in on the downward slope to another large cavern. There is liquid collected on the western wall and steps leading up to the east. The ceiling is 30 ft here. There is a narrow passage behind the pool of water.

Large room found with dead owl bear and 6 dead Tiger tribes men and 3 dead baby owl bears. There is sounds coming from behind the carcasses is starving baby owl bear (3000gp if sold) or can be given back to the earth spirit, party decides to nurse it back to health and take it back to earth spirit next month.

up a 4×4feet web filled chimney find another room filled with spider web .. Leana and Oewyn go up first. Finding a room filled with more webs. battle starts after some squares are cleared. combat 4 spiders and 2 Etter caps.

4713 May (continued)

Week 2 (continued) – War!

After defeating the 2 trolls and the rock troll, we continued north and find the remains of humanoid body and animal remains – food storage. We then go back and head east.

The ceiling of the cavern arches 30 ft overhead. To the south is a wagon heaped with firs without any wheels. A single barrel in the SW corner and nearby there are hides stretched. On the northern wall is a make shift throne with a bear skin rug. There are three brutish dog things in front of the throne. Hargulka sits upon the throne.

Combat

1 x Hargulka

3 x Dog Things

Valkyrie – 78 max hp – 23 damage – AC 25 – 14/9 1d6 +18

After Hargulka is killed, he stands back up and says in a womanish voice – in Sylvan:

“The promise will be fulfilled. It comes and can not be stopped.”

Then he falls back over. Kaiden recognizes the voice and his face goes pale.

The stretched out hide in the corner is a fairly detailed map. – Region Map – Our two settlements and the troll settlement. Arrows indicating raids or paths of attack. Other marks in green indicate the old Elven tower, the grove, and the pond.

There is a merchant chest on the wagon. Alexi isn’t able to open the lock after a few tries – take time later.

We head outside and our troops are mopping up. The town is on fire.

We hear an echoing roar across the area. Our troops are shaken by the sound and become more subdued.

Our troops did have casualties but came out on top.

Army takes care of:

Diseased slaves

Rescued slaves

Mop up town and recover any loot

no more than 3 days, head back

Party heads back to town quickest route

Leanna checks the dead troll dogs for disease (blood fire fever).

We spend the night (as it’s late in the day) and we’ll head out at first light after Leanna expends some healing magic on the diseased.

She has success and the Elf slave wakes up.

Elven Man – conversation is in Elvish – “Don’t come too close – I’m sick.” It
Caleb Northwood- his family holds position Kyonen Court to the south. We return his spell book that we found. We give him some clothes.

The Troll unit had 20-25 in the unit.

Path back will be – Hex 1814 → 1714 → 1615 → 1515 → 1516 → 1517

Week 3

Five days later we arrive at the town with smoke and dust over the town. There are people milling around. They look shell shocked. There was a fire. The person we talk to says they were attacked by a ginormous monster – a bird – bear thing the size of the elephant – crashed through the southern wall and rampaged through the city.

Town militia tried to stop it. It left several days ago.

We head to the town hall to assess the situation with the rest of the council.

The dead have been tended to.

Flora – There were 80 casualties – over half of which were watch men. (Akiros survived)

Looked like a massive owlbear. It came from the south and headed back in that direction.

Annalise dispatches a messenger to Olegdahl to get word from them. Where is that troll unit?

What is the damage to the town? Recorded on the tracker

Building Plan

Month 1

repair wall (half price) reduce unrest by 2 – cost 1

repair watcher tower – reduces unrest by 1 – cost 3

repair house – reduced unrest by 1 – cost 1

Month 2

repair house – cost 1

repair inn – cost 3

Send messenger to the grove

Hear back from Olegdahl and they were not attacked

There was a contingent from Varnhold that helped in the town’s defense.

Week 4

Army returns Week 4.

Follow up on Grigori – the agitator

4713 June

Week 1 – Kingdom Turn

Events

Oewyn – (choices between – shambling mound, giant owlbear, and destroyed caravan) – owlbear – full success – He can blaze a trail to the creature (the right hex)

Nisha – Treasury investigation -

Alexi – Research Unrest – 1d8 + 5 = 13

Leanna – Research shadow spell

Gilain -

Kaiden – Hire some people to look after the orphans including the changelings

Broad valley – There are mud, brick, buildings built up around a hill with a ruined stone structure.

There a massive gaps into the defenses. – Old. Probably Dwarvish in nature.

Strategic Turn

Recon terrain

There is a work crew that was not evacuated back into the fortification – chain gang – lumber gang. One of the Elven slaves is attacking our soldiers as Leanna arrives. The elf says in elven “Get back, it’s a trap. They are diseased. (Plagued).” Leanna is able to prevent it from spreading (Filth Fever). We isolate them and

There is a Kobold and Troll unit in the town. There are tracks (probably Troll) headed north. The tracks are two days old.

Based on that information, we decide we need to take out these units first before we head back.

Potential Objectives

Recover remaining slaves -

Our Kobold commander is going to make sure the Kobold unit is anihilated.

We’ll have the Forrest Hawks work with our Kobold unit on that objective. The Human

The party will recover slaves so they are not used for food (and it’s the right thing to do).

Recover Slave Gangs

4 x Trolls

4 x Chain Gangs (saved 14 of 20)

We evac with the chain gang and this aids our fighting forces of are able to breach the fortifications.

About 2 hours later we see our next opportunity. An unexpected tactical change – a fire starts. We see a detachment retreat into the fort (command flag).

We head in and up the hill. Along the path, Oewyn spots some deadfalls above..

Nisha casts Twilight Haze and we dash across the area. Nisha takes the brunt of the log fall as we cross.

Combat

3 x Trolls

1 x Deadfall

As a detail, Thorn throbbed in his hands as he moved.

Dwarvish ruins on the doors: The Palid Plague Is Here – Do No Enter if you value your life.

(this was the plague type that hit Kaiden’s original village)

There are two stairs leading out of the entry room. We head up the stairs to the south. It leads to a circular room that has a spiraling stair case that goes up a long way. The floor is covered in muck. Seems this is the latreen.

We head to the other stairs going up to the west of the main entrance.

A troll comes rushing at Oewyn and Valkyrie with a table in a bull rush action. It’s a more buff than normal Troll.

Combat

1 x Buff Troll

1 x Troll Hound

This room has been defaced with crude graffiti. Table with a headless small figure. Seems to be the body of a halfling that was used to feed something (Troll Hound).

Two exits – one north and one south. The northern passage leads to a kennel with two chained up Troll Hounds.

Kennel

2 x Troll Hounds

Then Kennel is disturbing. Lots of body parts for the dogs to eat.

Heading to the south leads to a store room stacked with things. We’ll want to explore this room in detail later.

In the southern wall is a hole in the worked stone leading south. The tunnel curves west and then forks. (north and west). We head down the west fork.

This opens into a large circular cavern with stalagmites. There is a circle made up of severed humanoid heads.

Oewyn finds a magic gem and several thousand coins. Leanna attempts to identify the gem and fails on a quick look.

While that is happening, Nisha and Kaidan wash away part of the circle.

The group heads back and up the northern fork. As a new chamber comes into Oewyn’s site, he is greeted with the twangs of two ballista bolts. There is a barricade across part of the room.

4713 March (continued)

4713 April

Kingdom Turn Completed – Week 1

Week 2

Plan is to go to Candlemere and grab one Willow O’Wisp and present it to the Lizardmen.

As Ava is down, Akiros has recommended we take a young magic user named Nisha. Kaiden hires her as a trial member for coming mission with a party split. We’ll see how she does.

We are hiring a fishing boat – Duncan (5gp a day). We expect the boat trip to be a week round trip. Socks is not coming with us.

We embark on our trip. It takes us about a day. As we approach, Alex spots the remnants of a stone dock. It’s evening time now. Alexi passes out buckets and we pretend to bail. We start to build a camp at the end of the dock. Kaiden notes the ruins were mostly likely burned.

During first watch, Kaiden spots off to the west some movement – person shaped moving in the rubble about 200 ft away. Kaiden lets Leanna and Alexi know. We continue our watch.

During second watch, the group hears sobbing, male from the west. Oewyn investigates – seems to be some sort of spirit or ghost. Was repeating “I’m sorry”, “I tried to save you”, sobbing, “I wanted to join you”. Oewyn comes back and reports to the group.

During third watch, Valkyrie is not happy with the crying. At one point, Valkyrie’s hackles raise. Oewyn gives himself scent and smells – strong scent of soot and and an odd scent from the north.

A light winks into the air above Alexi and he starts tossing and turning.

Combat Ensues – Gilain thinks looks like one of the earlier Wisps, but it has a fear aura of some sort? Not normal.

Combat

1 x BALL OF LIGHT?

We defeat it and recover it’s body (invisible) and retreat to the boat and leave. As we sail out, we see about six lights wink on in Candlemere.

We set sail for the Lizardmen camp to meet Rashaak. We arrive late afternoon and after initial negotiations, the Lizardmen allow us to land.

We meet with Rashaak. We present the corpse after purifying food and water magic upon it. It is of the same kind, but we cannot guarantee that it is the same one.

He tastes of it and he believes he can cement his tribe to side with us against the Trolls.

We stay through the ceremonies. Some of the group participate in participating in taking a bite.

They are open to being annexed barring details being ironed out. They will contribute one unit during a battle with the Trolls. They would be good as an amphibious unit at 1816. We stay with them through the night. We head back to Priomdahl.

We leave on Day 5 of the second week and head through Hex 1518, 1519 to 1520.

Hex 1518 – Some Boars
Hex 1519 – More wildlife than last time – no longer haunted
Hex 1520 – (Arriving Day 8) – Wildlife is quieter, perhaps a larger predator in the area.

We camp that night and there are no normal wolf howls.

The next day we continue hunting around for where the hunters were found. We find the location and start searching for predators. The small critter burrows and nests, but no other things in this hex. We spend an extra day searching around for the site.

We get there and start searching Hex 1421 (it will take 2 days to search)

We find a site of note. Stone Arch revealed by collapse. The Arch has Cyclopian runes into it. We head in to check it out. 30 ft room that is circular. Collapses around the area. Was probably a second floor here.

This was probably some type of watch tower of some sort. Hmm. There hasn’t been any recent history of Cycolpian activity in the River Kingdom.

We continue searching the hex (1421). Towards dusk, we catch sight of a huge bird off to the east.

We tracks from horses on occasion (unshod). Threading our way through the hills, we find a body and a horse torn to pieces. We investigate the scene. No tracks on the ground. The bodies seem to be all present, with no pieces missing. Savage attack.

We find a broken and spear.

Oewyn, Kaiden, and Leanna construct a stone bier to honor the fallen Urghar. It takes until evening/watch first watch to complete. Kaiden says a short prayers when they are done.

The rest of the party is on watch and setting up a camp nearby.

During first watch, Kaidan and Alexi spots 3 shapes out in the dark and calls out to them.

Kaiden calls out to them loudly, “Friends, come out of the dark, so we can converse.”
Alexi wakes and repeats it in Hallit. He then converses. The Ughar thought we might have killed their kin. We explain what we found and what we did with the body.

In the dialogue that follows, Alexi translates. They did not like us making any accusations against the fae. There have been other attacks. At first against outsiders (that they didn’t care about) and more recently against tribesmen. Other scenes often didn’t leave tracks as well. Also, it seems some of the other scenes would have been difficult for flying creatures to get to.

He has seen bodies in 4 different areas (now), miles apart.

Kaiden introduces himself and asks his name. It is Red Feather.

We Urghar need no help. And trespassers are killed in their land.

He says, “Points SE, where the land rises, that is our terrain. (Hex 1521)”

They will depart. We go back on watches.

Kaidan has started dreaming of being in an ancient Cyclopian army – Roman-like, Spartan-like. Brutal, Punitive, Heavily Regimented.

The next day we seek to finish searching the hex. During the day a group of mounted Urghar that shadow us for two hours and then head off.

We’ll need to hunt whatever it is to kill it in order to claim this territory.

We start trying to track it down. Eventually, we find a ravine with a carcass. It’s den?

Combat

2 x Wyverns

We recover 2 Wyvern Eggs.

explored 1222 and 1221 .. found water fall and cast fly on brian so he could check behind the waterfall for caves .. triggering 15 gargols to attack him … stopped after int was rolled water fall like 50feet and we are at the top .. its reason that the river in the two hexes is not used for water way because you have to go up or down the water fall its stright down drop

The last thing I remember was a flash of green light and then blackness as my lifeblood drained from my wounds.

What Ava and Gilian remembered being entangled in a mass of plants, like a giant head of lettuce. After getting themselves out they found themselves in a clearing surrounded by a bramble of thick thorns. The lighting was strange, everything had a green-blue echo (shadow?) giving an eerie appearance. There were other oversized lettuce patches which started to twitch as others, including myself, emerged healed from the plants.

There was a hooded figure who was there who appears to be Ren Lakejumper. Gilian greeted him but he didn’t remember? He replied that time was fluid or some sort of esoteric wisdom (or foolishness). In any case, he said he was fulfilling a bargain he had made apparently his payment being saving our lives and giving us a wrapped bundle which contained potions, labeled with our names, including my dog’s. There were several for each of us. He directed us to drink the potions and break the seed in the middle of the clearing to “return”.

I received a protection from Evil, 2 oils of magic weapon, and potion of fly. Curiously, the labels were written in my handwriting. The other’s potion labels were also in their own handwriting. My loyal dogkeeper, who was not in the least upset that I stabbed earlier, cast resist cold on all of us (20 Cold). We drank the potions, cast various magics in preparation for battle, and broke the seed.

When the seed was broken it was like all the colors were snapped back into place as the clearing vanished and we appeared right outside of the door just as it was being pushed opened by cousin who mentioned “it was a good thing we had that cold resist up”. Hmmm, it was if our defeat didn’t happen and we were doing this for the first time, yet I still remembered the battle, these thoughts going through our minds as we entered the Ruined Tower to confront the Shadow Queen once more.

The Queen, hovering invisible over the throne like before, challenged us once again as her undead knight stepped out from the shadows. The Shadow Queen dual cast once again, blasting us with a Cone of Cold and Ice Shards at Cousin, who withdrew to treat his wounds. Then that damn cat appeared again, engaging my loyal mastiff! Ava engaged the cat with blade and cold magic which it seemed resistant to. I fought the cat at first as well. Our fair witch, Leanna, cast glitterdust on the Queen, revealing her position. Gilian finished off the demon cat and shifted his position to start fighting the Black Knight.

The Queen cast her protective spell like before, making her invulnerable to lesser magics. The Black Knight replied to Gilian’s challenge with a mighty strike of his glaive channelling foul energies into the blow, but did not fell the brave dwarf. I commanded Valkyrie to attack the Knight while should battle instructions to my allies. I was told later by Ava that the Queen tried to Dominate me (and not in the kinky way) me, casting a spell from a scroll, but it was ineffective due to the Protection from Evil.

I was not so immune to the Black Knight’s glaive! Ouch! Neither was Eva to a Phantasmal Killer. While the Black Knight did go down to daggers, teeth, and claws. Fair Eva fell to the floor dead, Thorn rolling free of her limp fingers. With limited time before she became invisible again, Gillian charged the Queen, tearing with his draconic fury! I flew over to Thorn and picked up the blade which changed into a fighting dagger as it drank blood from my palm.

I flew up to engage the Queen and stabbed her once with Thorn which was enough to kill the Bitch. As she died, she muttered “I see now you meddling bastard it wasn’t enough to get my mother you had to get me to!”

We searched the area and found a secret compartment under the throne that contained a mastercraft book out of nightmare hide and silver inlay. There were also two scrolls. The book spoke and asked where its owner was. Gillian showed the dead body of the queen and it stated that one of us should possess it, preferably a spellcaster. It called itself the Book of Shadows. Meanwhile, Kaiden placed the shards into the Mirror which when the last piece was put in showed an image of a desert. This was no mere picture as daylight flooded the room. Through acts of will the images changed but before we could figure out much but tower started to crumble. Kaiden managed to change the image to the Capital and we went through the mirror as blocks of masonry came down around us.

Afterwards, Kaiden turned in the Troll Blood to the Alchemist. As a reward we recieved potions in return. It was decided to give two cure light wounds and two protection from evil potions to everyone.

March 4713 (continued)

Week 2 to Week 3

The next morning – we head to the right fork and come to a bog. Leanna makes us some smog masks (That takes about 15 minutes). The fog doesn’t appear to be acidic and the bog appears to be teaming with life. Then we trek into the swamp. About 20 minutes in, we find a hillock with standing stones on top of it with an alter. A glint of light (perhaps the mirror fragment) is on top of of the alter. There is a palpable sense of evil.

As we moved up, something stirrs – an invisible giant snake.

Combat

1 x Naga

After the fight, the group searches the area while Leanna analyzes the alter. It has major ties to necromancy.

We then trek out of the swamp. We then continue onwards counter clock wise and come to an area with a tree. A few skeletons are hanging from the tree with their hands bound behind their backs.

Combat

1 x Specter

2 x Wraith

After a rough battle, a number of the party are level drained and constitution drained. Leanna casts a Lesser Restoration on Oewyn, but apparently without effect.

We search and find a magic ring.

We need to rest up before tackling the Dusk Queen. Heading back to the Behir lair – we are ambushed along the way.

March 4713 (continued)

Week 2 to Week 3

We continue on and come to an area of the forest (HEX 1713 caontinued) that feels sad and abandoned. There are forest causeways throughout this area. We move along one of the causeways.

Alexi spots small ‘swarms’ of insects (not monster swarms) – they are size of the house cats. They are the magical beast version of ‘stirges’. There are hundreds of them. The are probably going to bother anyone who climbs into a tree or flies by.

We move towards a pool of calm dark water in a secluded clearing. We move towards the pool. Leanna believes it to be magical (and so are the tress – from a bloom effect.) Leanna believes the magic of the area inhibits magical teleports – limiting them to 30 feet.

Two figures rise out of the water – dusky brown – female humanoid n form. Oewyn believes they are nymphs. There is a discussion. The Queens Chambers are in her tower. “Are here to serve her or slay her?” We are not here to serve her.

Kaiden detects hopefulness in them during the discussion.

They key into her tower is in the form of a mirror that has been broken. We’ll need to find the shards to reform the key. Ava asks where we can find the shards.

Many of the denizens of the area are not happy with how things are going. They may have information about the locations of the shards.

If we swear to defeat her, they will give us the first shard. It is at the bottom of their pond and Ava dives in to retrieve it. She returns with a large fragment of a mirror (fist sized and inch thick).

Sapphyl and Lasralith are their names. The deep forest is very dangerous – stay to the causesways. Rumor among the fey – if all 5 shards are brought together it could be a magical enhancer.

Other Fragments:

Putrid Bog – Right at the fork

Embedded in the Trunk of a Hanging Tree – Also to the right.

Beneath a mound of smooth black stones – Left Route

One is in a deep pit of shadow – Left Route

Lasralith surfaces with a cloth bundle.

3 potions of cure moderate

1 scroll – restoration

We leave the pond and continue the left path. Along this causeway, we are ambushed. Eight huge spiders (look like black widows) appear from ambush.

Combat

8 x Huge Spiders

At a fork, we go left. There is a clearing with stones. There are carcasses and a punch of creatures with tiny white eyes. 9 bug bears and a bug bear with dragon like wings.

Things quickly devolve into a fight.

Combat

8 x Bugbears

1 x Leader Bugbear

His first action is to fly over to use and blow a negative energy breath weapon over us.

We take them down with Leanna casting Confusion with half of them and Alexi intimidating the other half.

We search the creatures for loot. and the pile of stones. The worm corpse is a Behir.

We go back to the most current fork and go the right path.

At the next fork, we go left. We come to a clearing with a pit in it. On one side the chasm are worn steps in the side. It is very very dark.

Tying ourselves together, we descend 60 feet into the hole to a ledge. The ledge has a cave. 50 ft further down is a inky black cloud. (Open gate to the plain of shadow)

Inside the cave, opens into a natural chasm. At the center is a raised area, there are steps leading up to a stone ring. There is a pool of water in the worked stone. There is a glint at the bottom of the pool.

Combat

1 x Shadow Dragon

2 x Shadows

Half the party is almost banished to the plane of shadow, but we make it out of the chasm. We trek back to the Behir Lair and hole up there to lick our wounds.

Leanna does some preventative care.

During the first watch, a figure appears put of the shadows at the entrance. It’s hauntingly beautiful woman. Shadow pools around her. Power radiates from her.

“I know you are gathering all my shards. If you bring them to me, we can enter into a pact. You have problems to the south – I can deal with them.”

Things devolve and her form disappears saying “Kill them”. We then fight 2 x Shadow Mastiffs

Combat

2 x Shadow Mastiffs

We win, but this fight breaks up our ‘long term care’ and then we make it through to morning.

Week 2
4 days into the week took place in the last session

Goals

Oewyn tracks down the giant trail and we come across him along a road by some over turned wagons.

He is singing about his sorrows. When we move up and engage him in conversation “His Green Lady is missing.” “She show’s up in his dreams.” “Gone now, and can’t find her.” We describe the Old Beldame. “What? No, she’s not a hag.” “Many nights ago” (was the last he saw her). What was the Green Lady talking to him about in his dreams? “She was going to find him a mate.”

Alexi attempts to send the Giant to the south west. “You know the Green Lady? Give her to me or I will take her by force?” We end up in a fight.

Combat

1 x Hill Giant “Monguk”

Found some loot and a crude map.

Leanna believes it is a map of the south west. – Markings are indecipherable. Comprehend Languages could help.

Next up – travel to 1516 then 1616, 1615, and 1614 (Shadow Lands).

1516 – Marsupial cat tracks – but we avoid them

1515 – Boars – we avoid them

1616 – During third watch that night – encounters a lizard man. He was bringing a message from “Raashok” wanting to meet with us on the lake outside the Lizardman village.

1715 – Lizardmen Island

Oewyn detects unease – perhaps this hex is next to be assimilated by the Shadow Lands.

Raashok comes that night. If he stages a coup, it will not be without bloodshed and likely will harm their ability to hunt and bring them to the point of starvation.

Offers

Food Supplies (BP investment for a specific period of time)

Military Aid (Party aid in the coup – aid and then leave)

Agreement Offered

Alliance and the eventual goal of joining our growing kingdom

Too early to talk about Alliance yet, but would be willing to take steps in that direction. Peaceful relations. Not hunt our people and give them safe passage. Would provide military support with a lizardman unit for one (1) fight.

Night raid coup and the chief and spirit would need to be defeated

The next time we’ll help in the coup.

The Coup

XX x Lizardmen

2 x Blood Caimans

1 x Will-o-wisp

2 x Harem

1 x Chief Vesket

1 x Troll

We are victorious! After defeating Chief Vesket and his followers we drained his troll follower of blood and installed our lizardman friend as the new chieftain.

Though ominously Chief Vesket did state that we had doomed “us” all after Eva connected with the final blow.

Cousin congratulated the new chief and presented him with the ancestral spear, however the willowisp had escaped, without it there is no proof that it wasn’t a spirit ancestor. Still our efforts were enough to secure the lizardman’s neutrality in the upcoming war.

Raashok will not be hailed as the leader for now until the Wisp is proved dead.

Gathered Troll Blood. Will need to bring it back within a couple of weeks (before next kingdom turn)

We depart the next day and head out to Hex 1714.

NOTE: Mark surveyed on 1715

While traveling into the Shadow Lands, Owen noticed that the vegetation seemed unusual, more fleshy? I wasn’t sure as it was too disturbing to contemplate. I was quite glad for the dim light. Owen found some dragon(?) tracks that led to a valley filled with fog. We decided to head in. The fog was quite thick and we had difficulty seeing. We tied the pommels of our horses’ saddles together to keep anyone from getting lost from the others.

The fog was faintly acidic, not enough to harm us in the short term. We continued until we reached the edge of a body of water. The horses became very restless, so Owen cast resist acid on us and waterwalk on himself to explore the water. Turns out it wasn’t water but a huge pool of acid! He noticed that there was a large body of an owlbear half melted half eaten near the edge of the acid pool.

In the distance we heard a screeching roar. In response we encircled the horses. Eva tried to antagonize the monster. In response it breathed acid on us and the horses, we were protected while the poor beasts were not. I led our mounts away while Eva and Gwain continued the taunt the dragon. Owen summoned an air elemental to clear some of the fog and revealed a large reptilian creature. It charged just after I moved up to support Eva, leaving my valiant steed to guard the horses.

After defeating the Forest Drake we tracked it back to its nest. Inside was a humanoid body with some gear that wasn’t completely destroyed.

After exploring the area and finding nothing else of significance we pushed further into the Shadow Lands, heading West. We encountered a giant talking tree who shouted “The Dusk Queen to returned!” and asked if we were here to stop her or do her favors for rewards. Owen said we were trying to stop the spread of darkness. The Treant took offense to this answer and attacked.

While fighting, the acid spitting tree told Eva “Arbiter, I was told you were not here for violence. I will let you pass while dealing with these.” Eva replied that the Treant should stand down or suffer. That she was here to discuss matters with the Dusk Queen. The thing refused and so the battle continued. Eva finally smote it with a fire spell. After it fell over in a burning heap a pair of eyes appeared in the smoke. A voice challenged us to continue invading her realm.

The trolls left their territory because they were starving and looking for food.

Harkulka rants about us all the day – high on his list to deal with – they will not wait to winter – no longer than fall harvest

There are currently 4 army units. – 3 troll units (25 each) and 1 kobold units

If the lizard men acquisitions goes through, they will field them as a 5th unit

As part a supply spread out – the units are split across several regions.

Trolls have a slave population of lesser races – Harkulka is insistent they are not turned into a food supply unless they are dead.

After gathering information – we exile him.

We gather the dead and wounded and return to the town. (1 day total time spent)

Funeral held the next day – memorial services –
Elyan reminds us of his request to found a settlement – 10 BP investment – bring up during next kingdom turn

That night we go hunting for the cabal (changeling children/dead new born). The cobbler has been dominated. We secure him and then we find a secret panel and a hatch below that. We descend down and then through a tunnel – Leanne notes there is a bloom (fae effect) on the tunnel – we traveled 200 ft and came out on a ridge outside somewhere. There is a path ahead of us that leads into a forest. Hanging from many tree branches are ‘dream catchers’. The forest is magical – the dream catchers are not.

There are alot of tracks coming and going – but seems singles passing back and forth (booted feet).

We come to a lit clearing – there is a bonfire in the middle of it. There is a hooded figure on the other.

As we enter the clearing – the hooded figure beckons and in a female and horse voice – “Come in, you were expected.” Turning to Leanne “We have been expecting you Princess and look forward to giving your kingdom as is your birthright.”

Needless to say a battle followed. From the trees six figures stepped out with ravens that grew the size of wolves. These attacked my cousin with a fierce vengeance, whoever these dark fey were they did not like their rightful ruler. The figures were some sort of spell casters, witches(?), perhaps would make sense as the illusionary projection of a hag appeared in the fire and said something inconsequential.

The fight did not go well at first. For some incomprehensible reason our witch decided to immolate herself in the fire. Fortunately (?), the enemy witch healed her burns. I was some befuddled by this I decided to assess the situation before moving to assist my cousin who was in danger of becoming crow food.

After we defeated the witches, grandma and the projected hag, stated that we were stronger than her followers whom were responsible for killing the children. I felt dissatisfied by this, however the magics the hag was using indicated immense power we were not ready to deal with. The Hag did agree to withdraw her support from the Trolls while we were at “Peace.” Ava was also given a magical gem that had the power to absorb negative energy once a week.

With Tyg in tow, we head back to Priomdahl. On the way back to Priomdahl, Kaiden has a dream. “on the homestead – night sky shattered – tree roots capture Kaiden and start to suffocate him…he hears whispered female voice…but can’t make out the words…”

About noon we return to Priomdahl. We return Tyg to his home

Flora tracks Kaiden down with an issue to be resolved. Early this morning, a group of townsfolk worked themselves into a tizzy and headed out to ‘take care of the fae’ – heading west. Probably to burn the Grove to the ground. We swap mounts out for fresh ones and head out after them.

Chase Montage begins

Boar Crossing – Reflex, Wild Empathy, Ride

Whitewashed – Perception, Survival, Geography (Kaiden – survival)

River Crossing – Swim, Survival, Engineering

A Giant Problem – “Can’t see, bring the lady back” *Deal with the giant later

Long Shadows – Kn: Plane, Survival, Geography

Grasping Straws – Nature, Strength, Escape Artist

Black Flames – Reflex, Spellcraft, Ride

All Choked Up – Our Shadows Attack Us

Howls in the Dark – 2 Wolf Demon Things Attack Us

Darkest Night – Dun dun dun…. – Kn: Plane, Survival, Geography

The Meeting – Campsite with townsfolk -

Grigori is the authority that spun them up.

After aggressive discussions ensue and the villagers start to back down – “This is for the unprovoked attack on my people.”

4 skeleton – osirian armor in origin

16 x MW Scimitar
4 x +1 Chain Mail

As the fight ends, the voice says “I will consider us even”.

We take the villagers back to town over the few days. We use trevois to carry the 12 dead villagers back.

March 4713

Week 1- Kingdom Turn

When we complete the Alchemist Shop- an alchemist arrives -

New NPC: Angeline – female human – quirky or eccentric – quest source – looking for two components – She unlocks improved saw mills if she is put on retainer (1 consumption a month) – required to stay on

New NPC: Sir Regel from Toldor – English Big Game Hunter – mountains to the east – home to magical beasts – rocs and hipogriffs – build a fantastic stable – would need patronage (consumption)

Some more dwarfs show up

Lily returns – set up messengers willing to pass missives to people in Brevoy

Event: Oewyn – southern reaches of the forest have become dark, gloomy and shadowy (16xx and 17xx rows)

Event: Leanna investigates – Hags

Event: Alexi investigates – Missing Children – Total of 35 on spymaster roll

Small mass grave in the grave year – dozen infants

A lot of after hours activity in our town – people lurking in alleys well after hours – events involve one person at a time

Organization or cult?

One potential location that he can investigate this month – trailed someone to a location

Event: Oewyn scouts Trolls – Troll Raid – we can go deal with them now

February 4713

Week 1 – Kingdom Week

Hex 1117 – Logging camp issues – not producing – Oewayn investigates and it looks like a war zone – there has been a bloom event – no positive

Trade route from Muvon is blocked by Troll activity

Refugees from the South (Gault) – arrived battered – lost people to trolls along the way – we grant them refuge in Priomdahl

Mother tried to drown her baby – it’s been replaced by a changeling – Public trial – child turned over to Alexi for “Assassin Training” – Oewyn has a nanny that will look after her from day to day

Leanna investigates Changelings – they are usually the offspring of a Hag – in the town, 13 changelings have shown up – some families consider the signs as good luck.

Event: Kobold infiltration into the Troll Army – came back – close to success on the lizrad folk west of Candlemere – Troll camp in 1814 but control several hexes nearby

Game plan -

Go check in Tig Tigger Tuk and Pervilash

Deal with Lizard men (diplomacy or take out)

Candlemere – and Willow O’Wisps

Week 2 -

It should take us 3 days to get to Tig Tigger Tuk and Pervilash’s Nest Hex 1116

On day 2 – a messenger catches us – Farmer’s in Hex 1118 having fae issues – suggestion is that we go to the fae nest first in 1116 and then go to 1017 – perhaps the two fae are the source of the issue

Day 3 – we arrive at 1116 where the nest is. The forrest is lush (the winter fae effects have snapped) – We get to there the nested tree.

Tree is covered in claw marks up to the nest

We dismount and Oewyn moves closer to investigate. Toothpick sized arrows – covered with troll blood. He hears sniffling and sobs in the nest. Oewayn tries to sooth the invisible critter and Pervilash fades into view. Stinky egg troll took Tig and Pervilash has to drive the humans out of the area or Tig will be pulled apart. Pervilash thinks Tig was taken to the Frog Pond. Oewayn tells Pervilash to keep up his activity while we go deal with the troll.

Hmm. There is a hot spring near where the frog pond was. Sulferous smell. 12 hours later we are closing in and hear cacophonous noises ahead.

Combat

1 x Troll (CR)

(CR Award with Farmers)

We save Tig after a near death. We tell Tig that Pervilash is worries sick and she heads out. We investigate the campsite and tent. The Troll’s armor is soldier like. The tent is propped up by a large spear. There was a crude sign indicating “Monster Kingdom” (in Giant)

We head back to the nest – camping along the way to check in with Tig and Pervilash. (1 day)

We head to the Farm hex 1017. We tell the farmers that it was the Troll as the cause of the troll. (1 day)

(CR Award with Farmers)

We head down to the Autumn Grove to report our results (5 day) (total of 10 days so far)

We advise Queen Syntara and she asks us to check on something that might impact us again. There is a creature living in the southern forest that might be a green dragon – probably a lesser cousin. Will we take care of it? Yes.

We travel to Hex 1715 (2 Days) and start to explore it. Oewyn rolls a 30 on survival. He finds spore of quadrapel lizard things. We track them down. This leads us to a hill that goes into the a cave. 10 ft wide entrance. A way down, it gets steeper then nearly vertical. We jury-rig the rope and about 20 ft down there is an offshoot tunnel and then 20 ft to the bottom.

Combat

9 x Shocker Lizards

We recover 3 shocker eggs that we need to keep warm.

We re-secure the rope and start into the passage that Oewyn hears rumbling hisses from.

We make our way in and find a nest with a two headed large shocker lizard.

Combat

1 x Two Head Shocker Lizard

When Ava enters the room, Thorn buzzes a bit – it’s some sort of Fae?

We kill it after it nearly kills Alexi and Ava. It has a green stripe on it. We heal up and search around. Lizard Men bones in the Nest. We take the two heads – maybe leverage to open talks with the lizard men.

We head outside and recover ours horses and set up camp to recover.

The next morning we continue exploring the hex (and to find the Lizard Man).

During the exploration, we find tracks of a shambling mound (huge). We decide to track down the shambling mound and continuing looking for the lizard men.

We find ourselves on the shore of Candlemere. It looks like there is a settlement just down the shore. There is an island in the middle of the mouth and that is where settlement is. We head to the beach. iroach in the open.

We glow with holy light and hail the town in common “We come in peace”. After a bit, we are hailed back in Draconic. They have caught a child fair and square and will eat him. We attempt to negotiate.

They refused shocker lizard meat, so Gilain presented the tribal spear we found instead. They questioned the brave dwarf on where the spear was found and he replied truthfully that we had found it in the lair of the two headed shocker lizard. The lizardman leader wanted to examine the spear, but Gilain wanted to know if the child was alive. The response was “lower him a foot” and shrill screams were heard.

The leader declared the spear a fake and threw it back. Gilain questioned one of the guards who said that the spear looked like a weapon of a revered ancestor. He then agreed to meet us at an island to discuss the spear while out loud proclaiming to drive us off. We left the village and traveled to the island and waited for our lizardman contact to arrive.

The guard arrived and tested the spear by trying to break while we explained the circumstances of finding the spear. The lizard man was named Rashaak, a senior hunter. He explained that he does not trust our kind and that their was an ancestor spirt (that had owned the spear) was advising the chief. Thus the spear being in the cave was false.

The spirit did not show up every night, only when it had new to part to the people. Its likely this spirit was encouraging the lizard men to ally with the trolls. It shows up in the ancestor hut in the village. It was therorized that it was a wilowisp or some sort of hag magic.

We decided to rescue the child using invisibility and flight. Our uncanny witch would do the deed. When she did so, there was a wisp there feeding on the misery of the child. The witch grabbed the child and flew away. The wisp zapped the fair lady, but she weathered the electrical assault and escaped with the child.

Note

Decide on Pro-Fae, Anti-Fae, and Undecided

January 4713

Week 1 – Aftermath and Kingdom Term

Fox shows up the next day with a pouch. It has a herbal concoction that if administered by New Moon to reverse the tree curse. The Coopie Doll is the equivalent of a minor curse that can be removed over the coming month through Remove Curse.

Death Count – 70
Casualties – 140 (adjusted for tree curse)

Unrest +2

Mutters Konlan – Murderer running around – his body was found

Party Action – Kept it private – Sent letter back to the family with the body – "We believe he was guilty of “these” actions, but no proof. Was accused by a woman, he was found attacking. He could have been under the influence of dark magics, but not sure. He died during the horrors of the night."

The carnival location will become a site of superstition.

The next evening Oweyn is interupted in the middle of the night with a pounding on his door. He finds the dog faced girl with a letter. “The Carnival is done and she has no where else to go.”

Namdrin cannot go anywhere – most of the carnies were killed off during the “Night of Darkness”

We can extend our kingdom to the East up to the mountiains, west to the edge of the swamp.

Kingdom Term Activity

Svetlana steps down as Councilor and Oleg steps down as the assistant to the treasuer due to the coopie doll curse with their daughter.

Elevating Flora to Councilor

Events

Kaidan – Fox messenger from Syntira – “My settling in at the grove has been completed. If there is anything you wish to discuss, the borders will be open to you and yours.”

Alexi – Investitgates and finds several people are anti-fae – including Svetlana and Oleg – Kesten and Kabran as well – Corax – lumberjack that had the issue with the nyxie – Loy is also anti-fae.

Shortly after a council sessions – visitor seeking an audience with Kaidan – Iola – Priestess of Desna. She has two petitions to be considered. They are not urgent, time sensitive – but are not time independant.

One. She has become aware of an island in Candlemere lake – she had received a dream that caused her to journey there. Her investigation found ruins and encountered Willow-O-Wisps. She withdrew and came back here and is seeking to gain assistance in dealing with it.

Two. Further, in her dream, she saw in her dream that the island had been cleared and that a settlement had been founded there. She would like us to possibly sponsor a settlement and join our kingdom. (20 BP)

Week 2 – Downtime

They pass through the nixie’s pond area and check to make sure all is well

They arrive at the grove to see Syntara

Ava seeks knowledge of what an Arbitor is

An Elder (like a god for the fae) created the blade

No set of strictures – can improve her views on the Fae as long as they do not contest it

Syntara provides an overview of the history of the region – The Stolen Lands – Long ago – close to the First World – rules by Syntara’s Mother – The Old Queen – The Old Queen sought to become Eldest and was rebuffed and moved “off the board”. In the subsequent vaccuum, many daughters sought to fill the void and sought edges. Building alliances and such. There were eight (including Syntara). Eventually Syntara had to make an alliance as well – made pact with the Witch Queen of the North (Baba Yaga). From that pact, the power of winter was unlocked and the remaining contenders were driven back and imprisoned and unification was brought about. At that point, Syntara saw that the pact of winter was affecting her people and turning them into that which they were not. The pact thrives with her and gets stronger as she does – so she put herself to sleep. The Cold Rider is a physical representation of the pact. With his defeat, the pact was broken and she no longer has to go to sleep. But that also means that the other young queens can push back into this territory from their prisons. The sword ‘Thorn’ appeared when the Old Queen made her play to become an Elder. At that time, there were no humans.

Not adverse with a working relation between us.

She has a tasks that we could help her with. One of her former subject.

“Howl From the North” – He is behind the raids on our territories. Syntara casts some sort of spell – silent image to create map made of flowers – indicates by time we return – he’ll most likely be in Hex 1518 – just outside the town.

Some of her court have not arrived – can we check in on Pervilash and Tig Tigger Tuk and see where they are. (After dealing with Howl from the North).

Week 3 – Travel to 1518 and deal with Howl from the North

We gather the group together and head into the east (Hex 1518). Oewyn begins to track the wolves down. The next day we start to coral the wolves to herd some of the packs and start to winnow them out.

Oewyn recalls a small box canyon that we can herd them into and start a fight with a pack of 12.

Combat

12 Wolves

2 Warg & 1 Dire Wolf

2 Warg & 1 Dire Wolf

1 Winter Wolf – Howl from the North

Kaidan skins the Winter Wolf for it’s pelt.

We head back to town.

Week 4 – Work on Relations

Oweyn – Works with Dahlia

Gilain – Works with Flora

Kaidan – Works with Annalise – Has become indifferent to fae – Suggests any future outdoor festival/activity have defenses

After dealing with the windmill of death, we raced to our next goal, stopping the sleigh rides of DEATH! (Children ride for free) As we were doing so, a fey fellow came out of nowhere and challenged us. Around his neck was a necklace of ice and he taunted that we could never catch him. He zip past us, insulted Gilain, and disappeared into the crowd. I mounted Socks and took off after the sleigh while the rest dealt with the taunting fey.

As the taunting fey ran through the crowd he began to attack innocents while the group had hoped it would come back. My ardent friends responded by their insults and tried to chase after him. He tossed a bead of force at my dog caretaker who became trapped in a bubble. I caught up to the sleigh and with a daring feat of bravery I leapt off my surefooted steed and landed on the sleigh. I began to fight the driver, a insane looking gnome with a beard of living ice tendrils and one eye swollen to monstrous size.

While we dueled the party chased the quickling into the pie eating contest tent. I need not go into the what exactly the contestants were eating, but it was quite disturbing. I was told that the contest leader was a big pig fey with a butter churn on his back filled with disgusting offal. Gilain shattered the churn with his wand while Eva killed the pig man. She almost succumbed to sleep venom on the quickling’s dagger who had stabbed her previously, but Lianna’s anti-toxin prevented this fate.

After nearly a half minute of viscous close combat I finally finished off the mad gnome while my noble steed slowed down the sleigh. It cursed me with its last breath and while I feel a deep brittle chill in my bones I am PERFECTLYFINE and I saved the children afterall. Meanwhile, my friends were still chasing the little fey fellow, its next stop was the ice maze. Valkyrie led the way and fell into a pit whose bottom was filled with ice cold water. After some effort they got Valkyrie out.

There was a sign.

“Beware the Ice Chain Jingling Devil”

Such a thing did show up wearing a collar with a chain attached. It breathed frost. Whatever it was was unknown as apparently it was a magical creature disguised in a paper mache costume. After dispatching they moved on till they reached the center. There was another mad ice gnome there. They fought it and it displayed more magical powers like creating walls of ice. Thanks to my timely arrival it died even more quickly than his brethren.

After healing, we followed the quickling to the ice carving area. Townspeople were frozen in blocks of ice, being chipped away by eager artists. There was a gaggle of ice gnomes present. All of them ran except for one who engaged us. After killing him, we chased the quickling onto the ice, forcing it to abandon the ice shard containing the soul of the Carnival leader’s wife. After Gilian grabbed the shard, the Carnival master stepped out of nowhere and demanded the crystal.

He was given the crystal. He shattered and it reformed into the unconscious body of a woman. He picked her up and walked off. He then returned after putting his wife in a tent. He gave Lianna a cure light wounds wand as a gesture of thanks. The Cold Rider then made his appearance on an undead stag. He attacked us with Ice Storm and the final battle began. The Caravan Leader assisted with haste and bardic performance.

Depsite the curse, I fought for the people and glory, slaying the foul thing with some help (Gilan using the shatter wand, my brave dog and his caretaker, Eva likely did something but I didn’t notice). Despite being impaled on its stag like horns I as I delivered the killing blows. Afterwards, the the veil that covered the twisted Carnival lifted, revealing the cold harsh reality of the horrors that occurred.

“I am far from the only one,” the Cold Rider said to me before its existence ended.